``Thigh`` ended one student`s hope of being the 1985 spelling bee champion. She spelled it t-h-y.

``Patronage`` knocked another out of the running. He spelled it p-a-t-r-i-o- n-a-g-e.

At 3:55, only four students remained.

Five minutes later, David Hlewicki, of Pinewood Elementary school in North Lauderdale, became the third runner-up when he stumbled over ``belfry.`` He spelled it b-e-l-l-f-r-e-e.

Only Scott Ruthfield, a fifth-grader at Nova Eisenhower Elementary School in Davie, who wore a``Don`t panic`` button, and Eileen Schlecker, a fifth-grader at Banyan Elementary school in Sunrise, were left.

The two 10-year-olds were brought onto the stage together. Each spelled a word until one goofed. Then the other had a chance to spell the missed word, and, if that student spelled one additional word accurately, he or she would be the winner.

Parents and relatives of the finalists, who gathered outside the small room, pressed against a wall of windows to watch the competition and listen through a speaker.

Eileen was first. She spelled ``certificate`` correctly.

Scott got ``despise.``

Back and forth it went.

Then Eileen was given her eighth word. S-e-p-e-r-a-t-e, she spelled.

A judge shook the cow bell that signaled a mistake.

Within seconds, Scott spelled ``separate``accurately. Then, to clinch the title, he spelled ``transfer.``

Lorell Ruthfield said she had tested her son one hour every night the past week.